Electric lantern



Jan. 15, 1929..

T. N. HICKS ELECTRIC LANTERN 7' Filed Nov. 16, 1927 2 Sheetsi-Sheet 1 filo/mall ll/c'xs.

Arron/vars.

Jan. 15, 1929. 1,698,912

T. N. HICKS ELECTRIC LANTERN Filed NOV. 15. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet lrromvtm:

Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES THOMAS NORMAN HICKS, 0F PERTH, ONTARIO, CANADA.

ELECTRIC LANTERN.

Application filed November 16, 1927.

This invention relates to improvements in electric lanterns and one of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a lantern of this type that would be durable and simple in construction with an operating switch conveniently located in the handle and whereby the light can be turned on or 011 without releasing hold of the handle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flashlight lantern of this character that can be manufactured at comparatively low cost and that is so formed as to be selfeupporting when placed on the ground or on an object.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a flash light lanternv of this character that permits the batteries bemg renewed and at the same time retains the lens reflector and lamp in their proper relation to each other by making them substantially integral with the cover.

Yet a further object is to provide-ineans to protect the lamp from end thrust of the bat tery should the lantern be arred by causing the thrust to be transmitted direct to the casing.

With the foregoing and other objectsm view the invention consists in a detachable cover so formed as to be self supporting, a switch carrying handle for the casing, an electric source of energy within the casing, a reflector and lamp in the cover, means associated with the cover for retaining the electric source of energy in position, retaining means in the cover for the reflector, a container carried in the cover, and means for retaining it therein.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved lantern partly in section.

Figure 2 is a sect-ion taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the inside of the cover showing the means for retaining the reflector and the container carried by the cover.

Figure 4.- is a section taken on the line 44- of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional detail of the handle showing the switch.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective View of the reflector retaining member detached.

Serial No. 233,713.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings A designates the lantern as a whole, comprising a metal cylindrical casing B and a detachable end cover C of suitable form and material. The casing is formed with spaced bulges 11 and 12 which form legs to enable the casing to support itself when placed on an object. While the side of the casing opposite the bulges 11 and 12 has rigidly mounted thereon a handle 13.

Vithin the casing is the source of electricai energy consisting of the cells 1 1 and 15 con nected in series. \Vithin the end of the casing and registering with the cell 15 is a re flector 16 provided with a socket 17 the socket retaining the lamp 18 in an adjustable position in a well known manner. The reflector which is mounted in the cover C is provided with a glass lens 19 and is held in position by means hereinafter referred to.

The base of the cover C, as particularly illustrated in F igs. 1 and an extension member 20 formed with an inturned portion 21 which butts the cell 14. The object of the extension is to retain the cell firmly within the casing and transmit any end thrust thereof, caused by impact, to the cover C and thence to the casing A through the retaining screws 22.

Secured to the terminal binding post 23 of 2, is provided with the cell 15 and positioned between said terminal and the lamp 18 is a U-shaped spring contact member 24, while at the front end of the handle 13 is arranged a suitably operableswitch 25 provided with an operating but-- ton 26 operable in the slot 27. Connected to the inside of the button 26 is a spring contact 28 adapted, when the circuit is open to engage with the insulation 29 and when closed to engage the terminal 30.

The switch as a whole and as particularly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 is provided with a cover 31 extending around the operative element to form protection therefor.

The circuit operable throughthe switch 25 comprises the cells 14 and 15 connected in series by the lead 32 and the lead 33 ending with the terminal 30 which is grounded through the spring contact 28. The U- shaped member 24 carries the current from the positive pole 23 to the lamp 18 which is grounded on the reflector...

As previously stated the lantern is formed in two sections, i. e. a body member and a cover member. The object'of this is to provide access to the insideof the body member to make adjustment or replacements of the elements therein when necessary. The means for retaining the cover in position comprise a pair of knurled bolts 22 previously referred to, or other suitable means extending through orifices in the body member which engage the nuts 34 brazed or otherwise secured to the inside of the cover member.

v As illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 7 I provide a retaining member 35 for the reflector, comprising a hingedly mount-ed ring 36 of wire or other suitable material adapted to lit snugly'around the outside of the reflector 16 and retain it'in position. The ring 36 here shown is bent at 37 to engage with a groove 38 formed in a clip member 39 which forms the hinge while the clip 39 is rigidly connected through the openings 40 to the inside of the cover and protruding therebeyond in bent form as at 41 to engage with the battery 15 and retain it in position. The loose ends of the wire 36 are engaged by a second clip 42 opposite the clip 89 which is provided with an orifice 43, where the member 85, is in closed position the orifice d8 engages a pin 4st rigidly secured in the cover and thus reieasably retains the reflector in position lhe extremity of the member 12 like the member 39 is turned inwardly as at 45 and engages the battery 15 to retain it in position.

A further essential feature of the invention, is the container 16 mounted within the cover C. Thiscontainer is designed to hold a supply of extra lamp bulbs and is releasably held in position by means of a spring clip d7.

As 'many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention within the scope of the claims con structed without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the present specification and ac- 1,e9s,912 v i companying drawings shall be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a lantern and in combination, a selfsupporting casing open at one end, a detachable cover for the open end having a refiector therein provided with a lamp, a source of energy within the casing, an extension associated with the cover adapted to abut on and retain the source of energy within the casing, a' spring contact member between the source of energy and the lamp, a loop of flexible material adapted tofit around the reflector, retaining'straps associated with the cover and operatively connected to said loop, a lamp box within the cover, retaining means associated with the cover for said box, a handle for the casing, and a push-huttoi'i in said handle-associated with the source of energy.

2. In a portable self-supporting work lamp of the character described, a container having an open and a closed end, electric dry cells mounted within the container, a cover for the open end of the container provided with a reflector and a lamp, means associated with the cover for retaining the cells in position within the containeiy'a U-shaped spring contact member between the lamp and the dry cells, means for retaining the reflectorcomprising a hingedly mounted ring of ties:- ible material adapted to embrace the reflector and suitably bent, a clip member associated with the ring and rigidly connected to the cover, a second clip opposite thefirstmen tioned clip, and apin in the cover adapted in closed positionto engage with the retaining means. 1 InI Witness'whereof I have hereunto set my THOMAS NORMAN HICKS. 

